Xenophobia, Gender Violence

OPINION: SA is making headlines worldwide, and not in a good way

OPINION: SA is making headlines worldwide, and not in a good way | HowardFeldman

The terrible combination of gender-based violence and xenophobia has become an international story. South Africa is trending around Africa and around the world, and not in a good way, writes Howard Feldman.

On October 13, 2010 the men were winched to the surface one at a time, in a specially built capsule, as an estimated one billion people worldwide watched. Private donations covered a third of the $20m cost of the rescue, with the rest coming from the mine owners and the government.

The difference, however, is that unlike the two examples above, SA leadership, and consequently the country, has either not recognised the severity of the situation or they have not identified what the goal is.

It also doesn't help that our politicians find it difficult to even use the word"xenophobia" without it sticking in their throats. If they can't even name it, how can they expect to tame it?

The story of the Chilean miners and the story of the Thai boys are examples of what we are capable of. When hope was all but lost, the magical blessing of human cohesion transformed the situation. What could have been dire and tragic became wonderous and awe inspiring.

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